Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-19
WHAT CAME OF IT.

Stuart Willard was kind hearted boy,
frank, generous, honest and truthful, but
SO lazy that his mother despaired of ever
seeing him amount to anything. She was
a widow, with no one to help her train her
son, and neither advice, expostulation
nor argument had any effect upon him.
He studied no more than was absolutely
necessary to enable him to keep up with
his classes, had no ambition to be at the
head of any of them, and worked as little
as possible about the house, though love
and consideration for his mother pre-
vented him from ever Sinking bis regular
duties, such as milking the COW, cutting
wood and bringing water. But he stared
az her aghast when she proposed that he
should take entire charge of the garden,
devoting to it his time before and after
school hours, thus saving the expense Of
hiring help.
''Oh, mother, l never could, +" he said;
''the weeds would be higher than my head
in a months time. I'm no hand at rake
or q hoe
you're no hand at anything as far as
l can see,'' said his mother. ''There will
have to be a radical change in you,
Stuart, if you expect ever to win money or
position"
~ don't know that care for either"
answered Stuart. "I'm not one of the
pushing kind. A quiet life suits me best "
and you'll be content to see all your
/ friends get ahead of you, / suppose"
"Now, mother, don't worry''-and Stu
art looked really distressed. 'I'n come
out all right never fear.
''There'lI have to be a miracle worked,
Gil
ness is the one fault of your character,
Stuart, and it viii keep you down all your
| life
Though averse to exertion of any kind
Stuart was fun-loving boy, always ready
for a f'olic, and not apt to think, until re-
oentance was too late to be Of any avail,
the right or wrong of the good time.
And he had three particular friends who,
in boy parlance, 'never stuck at any
thing when there was fun ahead.
They ali considered old Simon Pfeffer,
the richest man in Westville, fair
game, for it was well known that he
hated anything in the shape of boy, and
never spoke to or looked at one, little or
big, without growing like the rough old
bear he was believed to be.
He was an old bachelor, and lived with
housekeeper and half dozen servants
in handsome house in the suburbs of
the town, and he might have thoroughly
enjoyed his large grounds, fine orchards,
and well bred live stock but for the boys
of the town, who mischievously MIXED
his cows, stole his fruit, fished in his trout
pond, broke down his fences, left his gates
open, and made themselves generally OBJ
noXiouS.
The culprits always managed in some
way to escape detection. Well did they
know the terrible example that would be
made of the first boy old Simon caught.
He openly declared that he would show NO
mercy, and would know how to deal with
the offender
We never know how our most trifing
impulses, if acted upon, may affect the
lives of others When Ben Hopper stopped
one May evening at the gate of the little
cottage in which Stuart lived and asked if
he didn't want to go out to the old mill on
the Creek road to hunt squirrels, no intui
ton told him that he was doing something
which was to lead to an event that would
influence all the rest of Stuart's life.
Stuart accepted the invitation of course,
and On their way out of town the boys
were joined by Tom Halpine and Luke
w TlSni, WIlO were Qtutc dS IOuu VI 81 Ca
hunting as were Stuart and Ben.
For at least half mile after leaving the
town the Creek road WAS bounded on one
side by pasture belonging to Mr.. Pfeffer,
and so generously did it abound with
chestnut persimmon and crab apple trees
that the boys of the town were familiar
with every rod of it.
But it was not the season now for chest
rrah a
squirrel hunting party would have gone
whistling and shouting by had not hand
some brown horse, quietly grazing the
short grass, raised his head at sight Of
them and whinnied softly
~ know something we can do q sight
better'n squirrel hunting" said Luke
Wright, stopping short. "What do you
say to d ride;''
I'm in for it, answered Tom Halpine
81 don't believe we'd find any squirrels,
anyhow. They're getting so shy they
don't come round the mill like they
used to.
The brown horse had probably been
feeling lonely and was glad of company,
for he made no objection whatever when
Stuart let down pair of bars, and, going
up to him, took hold of his forelock and led
him into the road.
But he objected very vigorously to
having four boys on his back at one time,
and kicked and careened around until he
succeeded in Kidding himself Of all four Of
them.
"We'n have to take turns riding" said
Ben Hopper each fellow can go as far
as the bridge and then turn back"
They had made bride out of rope
Smart had in his D0cket and a niece IF
wood they picked up ON the road, and the
horse allowed himself to be guided very
easily. He seemed spirited but very
gentle and had evidently been trained to
trot.
The boys acted on Ben's suggestion and
took turns at trying the animals PAGES,
enjoying themselves so much that they
were loath to end the sport when it began
TO grow dark.
Il must have one more ride, and then /
will be even with the rest of you and we
can go home" said Stuart, as Luke came
trotting up and swung himself from the
horses back.
Wouldn't old Simon be in rage if be
should happen along now," said Tom, as
he helped Stuart to mount.
''This is about the best fun he ever fur
nished us" laughed Stuart, as he rode
away land he'll never be any the wiser
either
He went Gathering up the road at
good pace and the bridge-a rough log
structure-was reached all too soon.
Il guess I'll go little further" he
thought. There's no telling when I'll
get another ride and I'd better make the
most Of this